Looking forward, looking back

Hey everyone, 

I came up with the idea for Osei-Duro in 2007 while I was travelling around the world, designing collections in different textile rich countries. Prior to that I had a small fashion brand based out of Vancouver and Montreal, where I designed, hand-dyed and produced all the clothing myself. It was eye-opening trabvelling to other countries that had a cottage rich textile industries. I realised i could continue to design while also encoprorating other elements. 

A lot has happened in the world and the fashion industry in the last 30 years, since my eager and naive start. In Vancouver, where I grew up, H&M and Zara hadn’t arrived. Lululemon was working out of an office over a garage. Fast Fashion wasn’t a thing. There was room for the indie designer, such as myself, to just go to the local independent design shop, start a consignment account and start selling clothes I made. In 2003 I  interned with two independent designers, learned so much, and then started my own brand. That brand took me up to 2009 when I met Molly at our 10 year high school reunion and the idea of Osei-Duro as formed. 

It was a tough decision to close Osei-Duro, and it wasn’t one we took lightly. With it’s closure arises many questions about what i want my career to look like. Some may call it a midlife crisis. I do. When you’re in the rat race it’s hard to see the forest from the trees. As of now I am exploring where i want to be in the fashion industry. Since Covid I started working again with my hands - weaving, crocheting, sewing, potting. And it feels good and holy is it hard. What was once came so naturyally in my early 20’s now seems like a force. 

For now I am building my website and working on small creative projects as well as creative directing for other brands and musicians.